Growing Lathrocasis: A Lesser-Known Native Annual
If you’ve stumbled across the name lathrocasis in your native plant research, you’re not alone in wondering what exactly this plant is all about. While Lathrocasis isn’t as well-documented as some of our more popular native species, what we do know suggests it’s an interesting addition to the world of native annual plants.
What is Lathrocasis?
Lathrocasis is an annual forb native to both Canada and the lower 48 United States. As a forb, it’s what botanists call a non-woody herbaceous plant – think of it as the botanical equivalent of a free spirit that doesn’t commit to building permanent woody structures like trees and shrubs do. Instead, it focuses its energy on completing its entire life cycle in just one growing season.
Being an annual means that lathrocasis germinates from seed, grows, flowers, produces seeds, and completes its life cycle all within a single year. This strategy allows it to take advantage of favorable growing conditions when they arise.
Where Does Lathrocasis Grow?
This native plant has quite an impressive range across western North America. You can find lathrocasis growing naturally in British Columbia, California, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, Oregon, Utah, Washington, and Wyoming. This distribution suggests it’s adapted to the diverse climates and growing conditions found across these regions, from coastal areas to mountain environments.
The Challenge with Lathrocasis
Here’s where things get a bit mysterious – despite its apparently wide native range, detailed information about lathrocasis is surprisingly scarce in readily available botanical resources. This could mean a few things:
- It might be a relatively uncommon or inconspicuous species that hasn’t received much horticultural attention
- It could be known by other common names in different regions
- It might be a species that’s primarily of interest to botanists rather than gardeners
Should You Try Growing Lathrocasis?
The limited information available makes it challenging to provide specific growing recommendations for lathrocasis. If you’re interested in this particular native plant, your best bet would be to:
- Contact native plant societies in the regions where it naturally occurs
- Reach out to botanical gardens or university extension services in the western states
- Connect with local native seed suppliers who might have more detailed knowledge
Alternative Native Annuals to Consider
While we wait to learn more about lathrocasis, there are plenty of well-documented native annual forbs that might scratch the same gardening itch. Consider exploring other native annuals from your region that offer similar ecological benefits and are easier to source and grow successfully.
The world of native plants is vast and full of discoveries waiting to be made – or in this case, rediscovered and better documented. Lathrocasis serves as a reminder that there’s still so much to learn about the native flora that surrounds us.
